7 unorthodox things we'd do with our marketing, if we had to go back in time
In this episode, Eric and Neil reflect on what they wish they’d done differently in their 2024 marketing strategies. They share candid lessons on outbound marketing, messaging pivots, and collaboration tactics that brought real results. Learn why doubling down on outbound email, revising your messaging early, and leveraging webinars, influencer partnerships, and podcasts can significantly impact growth. Plus, hear about the opportunities they missed—and how you can avoid the same mistakes.
TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) What we wish we’d doubled down on in 2024
(06:30) The outbound process: gift cards, subdomains, and deliverability
(14:00) Messaging mistakes and shifting to search everywhere optimization
(20:00) Influence partners, paid speaking, and why collaboration matters
(27:00) Why missed opportunities fuel next year’s marketing strategy
𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟
Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HOSTS
Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial
Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel
FREE RESOURCES
Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/
Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/
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24:53
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24:53
GEO, SEO, AI SEO, AEO… Which One Will Win?
In this episode, Eric and Neil debate the future of SEO terminology, covering GEO, AI SEO, AEO, and Search Everywhere Optimization. They reveal why client language trumps industry jargon, unpack insights from recent conferences, and share the real drivers of visibility across platforms like YouTube, Reddit, and Google. Hear lessons on adapting to client needs, optimizing for relevance, and why wasting marketing budgets on the wrong audiences is a costly mistake.
TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) GEO vs. AEO vs. AI SEO: why client language wins
(06:30) How platforms like YouTube and Reddit define search relevance
(13:00) Lessons from failing and succeeding with podcasts
(19:20) Why pointless billboards are a money pit
(25:00) The challenge of driving change in large organizations
𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟
Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HOSTS
Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial
Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel
FREE RESOURCES
Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/
Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/
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19:16
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19:16
Legendary NFL Owner to Coach — Nobody Cares
In this episode, Eric and Neil dive into the intersection of high-performance leadership and AI-driven marketing. They unpack the “Nobody cares, just coach” mindset, how elite teams bring solutions not complaints, and why systems should evolve like an F1 pit crew. The duo also explore lower middle market private equity lessons, AI-powered SDRs, and how AEO and AI agents are redefining SEO careers. This is a practical playbook for agency owners, marketers, and operators who lead through change.
Key Takeaways
● Leadership mantra: nobody cares, just execute
● AEO and AI SEO demand rapid adaptation
● A-players + AI outperform average teams
Timestamps
(00:00) Nobody cares—just do the job
(03:40) F1 pit crew systems and team upgrades
(08:30) PE time horizons and owner decisions
(12:30) AI SDRs vs human SDRs
(13:40) AEO and AI SEO evolution
𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟
Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HOSTS
Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial
Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel
FREE RESOURCES
Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/
Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/
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19:01
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19:01
A Moat Is Not A Noun. It's A Verb.
In this episode, Neil and Eric unpack how speed, brand, and switching costs form modern startup moats in an era where insights depreciate fast. Drawing from Garry Tan’s “moat is a verb” concept and real-world case studies, they explain how execution speed compounds advantage, why AI shifts moat dynamics, and how founders can turn speed into durable defensibility through process power, brand, and network effects.
Key takeaways
• Speed is a moat when insights fade fast • Brand and switching costs still compound • Execution speed amplifies defensibility
TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Moats explained and Buffett context (01:50) Depreciating insights in AI (04:55) Brand moat debate and switching costs (07:20) Microsoft Teams case study (16:56) Global expansion lessons and wrap
𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟
Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HOSTS
Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel
FREE RESOURCES Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/
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20:10
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20:10
Bezos' One Profound Insight That Made Amazon a Trillion Dollar Company
In this episode, Neil and Eric unpack Jeff Bezos’s $1 trillion “release the work” framework—how pacing ideas boosts throughput and prevents team overload. They dive into Bezos’s barrels-and-ammo model, smart acquisition filters, rapid due-diligence questions, and BATNA negotiation tactics. Plus, insights on AI shopping surfacing indie brands, the ChatGPT apps opportunity, and whether Google or Microsoft is the Berkshire of tech. A tactical guide for operators who want speed without chaos.
Key takeaways ● Bezos framework: pace ideas to cut WIP and raise output ● Smarter M&A: use BATNA and focused diligence ● Early AI movers capture distribution
TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Bezos $1T framework explained (01:15) Pacing ideas and backlog management (04:43) When acquisitions become distractions (07:59) BATNA and diligence checklist (08:54) AI shopping + ChatGPT app opportunities (15:41) Google vs. Microsoft as Berkshire debate
𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟
Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HOSTS
Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel
FREE RESOURCES
Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribeUbersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel
About Marketing School - Digital Marketing and Online Marketing Tips
Neil Patel and Eric Siu bring you daily ACTIONABLE digital marketing lessons that they've learned through years of being in the trenches. Whether you have a new website or you're an established business, you'll learn the latest SEO, content marketing, social media, email marketing, conversion optimization and general online marketing strategies that work today from people that actually practice marketing and operate business. Approaching 100M downloads with 2,500+ episodes, you're sure to find something that will help you grow faster. Also don't forget to subscribe to our Marketing School Youtube channel to get more marketing goodness.
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